Kurdistan Journal of Applied Research (KJAR)
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Advancements in Nanotechnology for Enhanced Food Safety and Hygiene: Pathogen Detection, Smart Packaging, and Preservation Applications
Get PDFNanotechnology is redefining food safety and hygiene, providing innovative tools to address global challenges. This review delves into the advancements in pathogen detection, smart packaging, and food preservation enabled by nanotechnology. Nanoparticle-based sensors have revolutionized the rapid identification of contaminants like Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Listeria, offering higher sensitivity and specificity compared to traditional methods. Smart packaging systems equipped with nanomaterials provide real-time contamination alerts and extend shelf life by enhancing barrier and antimicrobial properties. Nanoparticles, such as silver and zinc oxide, are increasingly used in packaging to inhibit microbial growth effectively. Additionally, nanoencapsulation techniques protect bioactive compounds, such as antioxidants and antimicrobials, ensuring their stability and controlled release, which enhances food quality and safety. The emergence of biodegradable nanocomposites and edible films offers eco-friendly packaging alternatives, addressing environmental concerns while maintaining food integrity. Despite these advancements, the high reactivity and small size of nanoparticles raise safety and regulatory challenges, necessitating comprehensive risk assessments and robust frameworks to ensure consumer and environmental protection. This review also explores the potential of utilizing biowaste for green synthesis of nanoparticles, which could further reduce environmental impact. By integrating cutting-edge detection methods, improving packaging solutions, and addressing safety and sustainability challenges, nanotechnology has the potential to transform food safety and hygiene practices. Future research should focus on advancing nanosensor sensitivity, developing sustainable materials, and fostering consumer trust through transparency and education, ensuring a safer and more sustainable food supply chain
Cretaceous Limestone Dolomitization and Argument of Its Mg2+ Sources: Exampling the Bekhme and Qamchuqa Formations in the Zagros Collision Belt
Get PDFThis study unveils new considerations regarding the dolomitization of the Bekhme and Qamchuqa formations (BQFs), two reefal Cretaceous units in the Iraqi Zagros collisional belt. Previous studies proposed the dolomitization of these formations due to the ascent of Mg-rich hydrothermal solutions through deep faults but lacked substantial supporting evidence. This paper present new considerations suggesting that the dolomitization of the BQFs resulted from the Cretaceous environmental conditions and basin paleogeographic setting of the platform on which these formations were deposited. To justify this consideration, seven proofs presented. First is the occurrence of dolomite as vast layers extending tens of kilometers laterally and bounded between limestone beds, which resemble a strata-bound occurrence. Second is the absence of vertical selective dolomitization such as, hydrothermal mineralization, vertical dolomite dykes, hydrothermal vents, tubes, or zones. Third is the barrenness of most of the fault surfaces and their surrounding rocks with selective dolomitization. Fourth is the sharp boundary between the dolomite and limestone layers, indicating a sudden environmental change from lagoon to reef or forereef. Fifth is the record of dolomitization in the sediments reworked by bioturbation, evident in thalassinoides burrows. Sixth is the succession of BQFs underlain by limestone and green marl devoid of dolomitization and hydrothermal upward movement. Seventh is the contradictory notion of hydrothermal dolomitization among the most recent study published in the Science journal which atributed dolomitization to normal temperate on earth surface. In the present study, the source of the Mg is argued and its presence is attributed to the warmth of the Arabian platform (plate) near the equator during the Cretaceous period. Another source is the connection of the Arabian platform with the Neo-Tethys Sea, which was the locus of Mg-rich mafic volcanism in the form of arcs and mid-oceanic ridge topography, which supplied a voluminous amount of Mg to the Arabian carbonate platform through ocean currents
Addressing Fuzzy Linear Programming Problems Through Ranking Functions
Get PDFIn contemporary decision-making, reliance on information is paramount, yet much of it is fraught with uncertainty, making logical decision-making challenging. To tackle this uncertainty, various methods, including the use of fuzzy numbers, have been employed. This paper specifically delves into addressing linear programming (LP) problems characterized by fuzzy coefficients in the objective function, fuzzy values in the right-hand side, and fuzzy coefficients of constraints. The proposed approach involves employing linear ranking functions such as Maleki, Campos, Yager’s F1 and Yager linear ranking functions to solve these fuzzy linear programming (FLP) problems and attain optimal solutions. Furthermore, the paper elucidates the resolution steps through the presentation of numerical examples, in this study, a comprehensive methodology is presented for effectively addressing a wide range of linear programming problems
Impact of Wireless Network Packet Loss on Real-Time Video Streaming Application: A Comparative Study of H.265 and H.266 Codecs
Get PDFThe transmission of real-time videos over wireless networks is prone to the negative consequences of packet loss and delay, which can have a potential effect on the video quality during streaming. These impairments can lead to interruptions, buffering, and degradation of visual and auditory elements, resulting in an unsatisfactory user experience. In this paper, we aim to address the challenges associated with packet loss and delay parameters in wireless networks, and propose an approach to alleviate their impact on real-time video transmission. The proposed approach involves utilizing the H.265/H.266 video coding standards. For Versatile Video Coding (VVC), a patch support for VVdeC and VVenC to FFmpeg (Fast Forward Moving Picture Expert Group) is added. As a result, FFmpeg is used to encode, stream and decode all videos. Raw videos of 2K qualities are encoded based on the adaptive quantization (QP) for the above-mentioned codecs. By selecting optimal transmission data based on various network conditions, this approach enhances the Quality of Experience (QoE) for end-users while minimizing resource usage in the wireless network. Furthermore, the proposed approach selects the codec standards according to their bitrates and frame rates. Simulation results indicate that the proposed approach has a significant improvement for real-time video streaming over wireless networks to satisfy the end user experience. The approach also outperforms other related work by gaining a PSNR of +12 dB for H.265 and +13 dB for H.266 when the network packet loss is 1%
Prevalence of Cognitive Impairment Amongst Older Adults and the Associated Risk Factors
Get PDFCognitive impairment in older adults refers to a decline in mental abilities such as memory, attention, and problem-solving, often associated with aging. This study aimed to show the prevalence of cognitive impairment among older people and examine the risk factors in acquiring the disease. This cross-sectional, community-based study was implemented between August 2022 and August 2023. The study population involved older adults (n= 400) living in urban regions aged ≥60 years. A questionnaire used to collect sociodemographic data. Further, mini mental state examination tool to assess cognitive function, activities of daily living tool to assess physical functional capacity, patient health questionnaire-9 tool to identify depressive symptoms, Snellen chart to examine visual acuity and whispered voice test to examine hearing acuity were used. Chi-square test used to investigate the association between risk factors and cognitive impairment. The prevalence of cognitive impairment was 31.25% in examined community. The risk of the disease was higher in the following participants: age group 90-100 (71.4%), female (45.9%), unemployed (47.1%), having insufficient socioeconomic level (51.2%), being illiterate (49.3%), having low hearing acuity (77.4%), having sever functional impairment (78.6%), being widowed (56.8%), living with others rather than a spouse (54.4%), having low visual acuity (33.3%), and having depressive symptoms (65.1%). The severity of cognitive impairment is statistically significantly related to age group of 90-100 years old (80%), smokers (n = 21) is mostly mild [n=9/21 (42.85%)], the decrease in hearing acuity is more frequent among those with sever cognitive impairment [n= 9/24 (37.5%)], and most of the features were of mild severity [n= 45/69 (65.2%)]. Cognitive impairment is a prevalent disease, and the risk factors are being females, unemployed, have a low socioeconomic level, illiterate, and widowed. Moreover, the disease is substantially related with increasing age, low hearing and visual acuity, depressive symptoms, and physical functional impairment
Effect of The Duration of The Diagnosis on DNA Methylation Changes in Three Different Diabetic Genes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Get PDFThe primary epigenetic alteration is DNA methylation. This study examined variations in DNA methylation in patients with type 2 diabetes at various time intervals, concentrating on the Calpain-10 (CAPN10), ATP binding cassette subfamily C member 8 (ABCC8), and Transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) genes. Since persistent diabetes can lead to aberrant methylation patterns, it is interested in how long these changes may last. The blood samples from 140 individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) were collected, and the patients were grouped according to how long they had been diagnosed. Four groups of individuals were created based on their time on the disease: those with T2DM <1 year, those with T2DM 1-3 years, and those with T2DM 3-5 years. The genders and ages of the participants were also noted. Using the Promega technique, bisulfite conversion and DNA extraction were completed. Methylation-specific PCR amplification was used to detect DNA methylation. In the study, ROC curve analysis, Chi-square and Spearman's correlation coefficients, as well as non-parametric tests, were employed to analyze the methylation percentage variation and methylation patterns among groups. A significant threshold of p < 0.05 was established. The results of the study indicated that the DNA methylation rates of T2DM patients and the control group differed significantly. Patients with type 2 diabetes, particularly those who had just received a diagnosis, showed higher levels of methylation than the control group. The study also found that the length of diagnosis may have an impact on the discriminative strength of the DNA methylation status of the ABCC8 gene, resulting in varying degrees of T2DM prediction.
Comparative Analysis of AES, Blowfish, Twofish, Salsa20, and ChaCha20 for Image Encryption
Get PDFNowadays, cybersecurity has grown into a more significant and difficult sci-entific issue. The recognition of threats and attacks meant for knowledge and safety on the internet is growing harder to detect. Since cybersecurity guar-antees the privacy and security of data sent via the Internet, it is essential, while also providing protection against malicious attacks. Encrypt has grown into an answer that has become an essential element of information security systems. To ensure the security of shared data, including text, images, or videos, it is essential to employ various methods and strategies. This study delves into the prevalent cryptographic methods and algorithms utilized for prevention and stream encryption, examining their encoding techniques such as advanced encryption standard (AES), Blowfish, Twofish, Salsa20, and ChaCha20. The primary objective of this research is to identify the optimal times and throughputs (speeds) for data encryption and decryption processes. The methodology of this study involved selecting five distinct types of images to compare the outcomes of the techniques evaluated in this research. The as-sessment focused on processing time and speed parameters, examining visual encoding and decoding using Java as the primary platform. A comparative analysis of several symmetric key ciphers was performed, focusing on handling large datasets. Despite this limitation, comparing different images helped evaluate the techniques' novelty. The results showed that ChaCha20 had the best average time for both encryption and decryption, being over 50% faster than some other algorithms. However, the Twofish algorithm had lower throughput during testing. The paper concludes with findings and suggestions for future improvements
Evaluation of Different Classification Algorithms for Land Use Land Cover Mapping
Get PDFFor efficient sustainable management and monitoring landscape changes over times, reliable land use land cover (LULC) mapping using the most accurate classification algorithms is required. Increasing innovative classification algorithms and satellite data demands finding the most suitable classifier to create accurate maps of different features efficiently. The challenge addressed in this study is to identify the most accurate algorithm for classifying and generating reliable LULC. The objective of this research was to identify the best classification among several algorithms both overall and in each individual class by using ArcGIS Pro and Google Earth Engine with Landsat 8 and Sentinel-2 datasets for Ranya city as the study area. Support vector machine (SVM), maximum likelihood, random tree, classification and regression tree, K-Nearest Neighbor and iterative self organizing cluster algorithms were used to classify the satellite image of the study area. The kappa coefficient matrix was used to assess the performance of each classifier and method. The study showed that the random tree algorithm achieved highest overall accuracy using Sentinel-2 with 83%. Meanwhile, when the specific class accuracy is priority, the result suggests the use of SVM algorithm using Sentinel-2 for building footprint extraction with 92% accuracy. The result also showed that the outcomes of most algorithms were better using Sentinel-2 rather than Landsat 8, making Sentinel-2 more suitable for accurate LULC mapping. The outcomes of the research assessed different classification algorisms to find the best algorithms and methods that can be used to generate accurate and efficient LULC maps.
Assessment of the Antifungal Activity of PMMA-MgO and PMMA-Ag Nanocomposite
Get PDFOrthodontic acrylic resin is used in the construction of orthodontic appliances. It lacks antimicrobial properties and is prone to microbial infection. So, the infection associated with it can be reduced via modification of orthodontic acrylic resin with nanoparticles (NPs) incorporation. The study directed to evaluate the antifungal properties of modified orthodontic acrylic resin incorporated with magnesium oxide (MgO)-NPs and silver (Ag)-NPs. NPs were mixed with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) in ethanol-assisted mixing method. Disc samples (10 mm in diameter and 2 mm thick) of PMMA-MgO, PMMA-Ag nanocomposites and PMMA alone (as control) were prepared. Then, C. albicans was isolated and identified clinically through taking swabs from acrylic denture base orthodontic appliances, cultured on a Sabouraud Dextrose Agar medium, followed by transferring on HiCrome™ candida Differential agar which is a selective and differential medium to distinguish distinct Candida species. The polymerase chain reaction was performed and the amplicon was separated by 2% gel electrophoresis and then visualised by ethidium bromide. DNA sequencing was performed on the sample at Sanger sequencing/ ABI 3500. Antifungal activity of PMMA-MgO and PMMA-Ag (1%, 3% and 5% of NPs) was conducted through disc diffusion assay and colony forming unit counts. The result showed a decrease in the number of adhered Candida albicans (C. albicans) of all concentrations of both nanocomposite and the decrease was statistically significant (P<0.05) in all experimental groups except MgO-NPs 1% and 3%. Increasing the concentration of NPs was associated with decrease in the adhered C. albicans. It was concluded that PMMA-MgO and PMMA-Ag nanocomposites showed anti-adherence activities against clinically isolated C. albicans in concentration dependent manner
GIS-based Spatial Analysis of the Evolution of Residential Developments; A Case-study of Sulaimani city, Iraq
Get PDFThis research is aimed at visualizing the historical evolution of residential landuse development of Sulaimani city based on GIS spatial analysis with the input of all of the relevant available data in various formats in order to determine the form of the city according to morphological classifications discussed in the literature of urban planning. Essentially, following the collection of data, processing, review of relevant literature and applied methods, this study draws a timeline for the spatial evolution of the city of Sulaimani in addition to constricting a spatial grid for morphological comparison of different growth stages and analysis on multiple aspects. Moreover, a number of criteria were established to evaluate spatial patterns based on published theories in the field of landuse urban planning. These indicators were formulated in a questionnaire survey and determined the main aspects of the city through visualizing the process of historical evolution up to modern date. Finally, the study presents transformations and addresses current issues, as well as recommends a number of possible solutions for residential landuse development in the city of Sulaimani